Analysis

8/2/23

5 min read

Cleveland Browns 2023 Fantasy Football Team Preview

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As we inch closer to opening day of the NFL season, we want to get you prepared for your fantasy football drafts. That process begins with our team previews, where we’ll break down each team’s offense while providing players we’re targeting and, in some cases, avoiding.

>> READ: Browns Season Preview from Eric Mangini

Browns Fantasy Football Preview

Head Coach: Kevin Stefanski (fourth season)

Offensive Coordinator: Alex Van Pelt (fourth season)

Key Offensive Additions

Key Offensive Departures

Key Offensive Rookies

Points Per Game: 21.2 (18th)

Passing Yards: 202.6 (22nd)

Rushing Yards: 146.5 (sixth)

Vacated Targets: 68 (28th)

Pass: 57 percent Run: 43 percent

Pace: 12th

OL Rank: First

Quarterbacks

Deshaun Watson is one of the most important puzzles to solve in fantasy football this year. Watson has played six NFL games in two years, breaching 200 yards passing in just two of them. If Watson’s six games last season are his new reality as a player, he will be little more than a volatile streaming option in fantasy.

However, the upside case is that Watson returns to form as a dual-threat quarterback who threw for 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2020. In a best-case scenario, Watson has top-five upside at the position. In a worst-case scenario, what we saw from Watson at the end of last season is what we’re going to get going forward.

We’re willing to lean into Watson’s upside case at current costs, but that decision ultimately boils down to your risk tolerance. 

Running Backs

Arguably the most efficient rusher of all time, Nick Chubb has averaged more than five yards per carry every season of his career, with at least eight rushing touchdowns in all five seasons. He’s averaged more than 15 carries per game each of the past four seasons, with Kareem Hunt as the thorn in his side preventing him from a significant receiving role.

Prior to Hunt’s arrival midway through 2019, Chubb averaged 3.1 receptions (17-game pace of 53) through Week 9 of that season. With Hunt a free agent, it’s reasonable to assume Chubb’s receiving usage experiences an uptick, potentially returning to early 2019 levels.

He’s a high-end fantasy RB1 for 2023, and you can view his exact ranking for FREE here.

Behind Chubb are a series of question marks. Jerome Ford was taken in Round 5 last year and played on special teams as a rookie, with 30 kick returns and just eight carries. He’s a big back who showcased he has an all-purpose skill set at the University of Cincinnati, though his senior season was the only year of college he started. He’s the current backup in name only, and almost any veteran addition would push Ford down the depth chart.

None of the other backs currently on the roster are worth diving into, although a guy like Leonard Fournette would fit well on this roster. Ultimately, the lack of backfield depth points to a heavy emphasis on Deshaun Watson and the passing game.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

The Browns acquired Elijah Moore via trade and drafted Cedric Tillman to support Watson better. Amari Cooper is expected to lead Cleveland’s receiving corps after his best season as a pro, where he consistently saw a massive target share. With a full offseason to work with Watson, Cooper is in a spot for another great year, potentially surpassing 140 targets for the first time in his career.

Donovan Peoples-Jones and Moore are vying for the WR2 spot. Peoples-Jones is the deep threat, while Moore excels in the middle and underneath routes. Both are valuable bench additions at their ADPs, with big-play potential and consistent contributions.

David Njoku will be the primary tight end, with red zone capabilities for double-digit touchdowns. Though you're cautious about his overall volume, don't overlook his scoring potential.

Roster Peoples-Jones and Moore, and consider Njoku as a viable tight end option.

Dynasty Buy

Ian Miller: Buy Watson (QB11)

There’s a four-year sample that points to Watson being one of the premier fantasy producers. There’s also a six-game sample after being away from football for nearly two years that says otherwise. It’s your choice to follow the four-year or six-game sample, but Ian Miller has already made his decision.

Browns We’re Targeting or Avoiding in Fantasy Football

Josh Larky: Target Watson, Avoid Njoku

Ryan Reynolds: Target Watson, Moore

Jordan Vanek: Target Cooper, Moore

Other Fantasy Previews

NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS

NFC North: CHI | DET | GB | MIN

NFC South: NO | ATL | CAR | TB 

NFC West: SF | LAR | SEA | ARI

AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ

AFC North: CIN | BAL | PIT 

AFC South: HOU | IND | JAX | TEN

AFC West: KC | LAC | LV | DEN

Follow our Team on Twitter

Josh Larky: @JLarkyTweets

Ryan Reynolds: @RyanReynoldsNFL

Jordan Vanek: @JordanVanekDFS

Ian Miller: @Dynasty_IM

Our data is provided by Sports Info Solutions and our vacated targets figure is provided by Tru Media. 

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Tags: Amari Cooper, Cedric Tillman, D'Ernest Johnson See More

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota as an accounting major, but some of the most valuable business and investment lessons he has ever learned came from spending weekends learning the sports collectibles business from his father. At a young age, Ryan would voluntarily spend hours sifting through minor league baseball statistics, using his father’s analytics-based system to identify potential targets. Even then, the hitter’s swing or the pitcher’s “stuff” mattered more to Ryan than the perspective granted through just data.

Josh Larky

Josh Larky is the Director of Fantasy and Gambling at The 33rd Team.  He joins us with a unique blend of educational and professional experience.

Jordan Vanek

Jordan has been playing DFS since 2016 and started writing content at the end of 2020. While playing DFS, he has managed multiple top 10 finishes in NFL, college football, baseball, basketball and NASCAR.

Ian Miller

Ian Miller attended Washington State University, where most of the time he was building fantasy football models when he should’ve been paying attention to lectures. That’s where he first started building his process that he continue to grow today. It’s a process that gives probability of success and range of outcomes for recruits all the way to ten year NFL veterans. It’s something Ian not only shares with the readers, but also uses in his personal fantasy leagues.

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